A friend of mine grew up with a collie.

She got Harry when she was 3 years old and her sister was five. And before long, Harry's vocation as a sheep dog made itself apparent.

Whether the two little girls were walking down the sidewalk, the path to the lake, or in the mall, they regularly noticed a cold nose at their elbow, gently nudging them towards the center of the path, keeping them away from danger and helping them take the shortest route possible to get where they needed to go. No dawdling or detours allowed, the sheep dog knows his job is to keep everyone on track.

The 4th Sunday in Easter is typically called Good Shepherd Sunday, it is on this day we contemplate Jesus's role as the Good Shepherd, and our role not only as sheep, but as shepherds - or even sheep dogs who do our Master's bidding.

This year we view this theme through the lens of Mother’s Day and we contemplate not only the ways our moms have served to keep us on track, nudging us away from danger and keeping us focused, but the ways you and I are called to be sheep dogs to those around us - keeping us all on the right track, pointed us to where we need to go.

So we ask, in what ways are we pointing our lives in the right direction? 

What are the sheep dogs around us saying? 

And how are we helping herd those in our care toward the things that matter?